Police block graduation ahead of Lowassa arrival

Former Prime Minister Edward Lowassa.

What you need to know:

  • The event involved a group of Evangelical Lutheran Church of Tanzania (ELCT) students who are graduating in various fields at the university.
  • Information from the event had it that all the necessary arrangements had been completed including securing permits from the university administration.

Dar es Salaam. Police in Dar es Salaam yesterday blocked some Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (Muhas) students from participating in a graduation ceremony that was to be graced by former Prime Minister Edward Lowassa.

The event involved a group of Evangelical Lutheran Church of Tanzania (ELCT) students who are graduating in various fields at the university.

Information from the event had it that all the necessary arrangements had been completed including securing permits from the university administration.

Speaking on the condition that he should not be named because he was not authorised to speak to the media, one graduant said Mr Lowassa had confirmed his participation and that a letter to the university administration to secure event permission and venue had all the information.

“The administration had granted its permission until when they called this afternoon to tell us that government authorities had ordered the function cancelled,” he said.

“We are so frustrated because we received the notice while guests were already seated, food for approximately 250 people is still with us. We actually don’t know what to do with it,” he added.

Information from the college shows that it was a traditions for students of various religious denominations to invite government leaders, politicians and distinguished personalities in their group graduation ceremonies.

The Citizen on Sunday has information that last year, Catholic graduands at the university had invited retired President Benjamin Mkapa. This year, the former minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office (Investment and Empowerment) who is also the Hanang Constituency Member of Parliament, Dr Mary Nagu, was invited to grace a similar function.

“If the decision was taken because they are not happy with the invitation being extended to Mr Lowassa, who decamped to the opposition Chadema from CCM last year, it would have been better if they had informed us so that we could pick another chief guest. We could have even invited Dar es Salaam regional commissioner Paul Makonda,” he said.

Spot checks by The Citizen on Sunday established tight security mounted by law enforcers at Muhas. Three vehicles were parked along the road leading to the university with armed police officers patroling the area.

Journalists and other people were blocked from entering the university premises. They were told that the function had been cancelled.

The university had placed announcements on the walls of various buildings and at the entrance to ensure the guests were not allowed in. When reached for clarifications, the Vice Chancellor of Muhas, Prof Elikana Kaaya, said he was unaware of the gathering.

“My university has specialised in providing education on health issues. We have nothing to do with religious matters in the premises. So, we have nothing like graduations in the university. What I know is that university graduation will be held on December 3, this year,” he told The Citizen on Sunday in a telephone interview.

Ilala Police Regional Commander Lucas Mkondya could not be reached for comment over the matsaid also he was not informed of tight security at Muhas.

“Let me contact my subordinates and I will come back to you,” he said. However, the RPC didn’t call back until we went to press.

A number of graduation ceremonies organised earlier by students affiliated to opposition Chadema have also been cancelled on police orders. Such incidents were witnessed in Dodoma.

On Friday President John Magufuli relaxed a ban on opposition parties’ activities, announcing that elected leaders would be allowed to conduct political meetings in their respective constituencies.

He also, declared that the government would not allow the main opposition Chadema to hold what the party has named “Defiance Day” on September 1, warning that those who would dare venture out would be dealt with thoroughly.

The President spoke out on controversial issues during a public rally in Manyoni District, Singida Region. It was his first public meeting as he embarked on a four-day tour of Singida, Tabora, Geita and Shinyanga regions.

Early in the week, an extra-ordinary meeting of Chadema’s top decision making organ met in Dar es Salaam and announced that its members and supporters would hold picketing rallies on September 1, to protest an apparent ban on political activities by the government since President Magufuli ascended to the presidency, succeeding Mr Jakaya Kikwete.

Party’s national chairman Freeman Mbowe said the September 1 rallies would consist of peaceful processions to show displeasure with President Magufuli whom they accused of undermining democracy through a ban on opposition activities throughout the country. They said they wanted to condemn an emerging trend which they equated to dictatorship by the Executive.